Writing NSW: CEO, program director depart

Writing NSW CEO Jane McCredie will leave the organisation in July.  

In a statement, Writing NSW said McCredie had been an ‘integral part of Writing NSW for the past ten years, providing exceptional leadership during uncertain times and leaving a legacy of growth, resilience, and advocacy for all writers in the state’, including through new programs to support writers from a diverse range of backgrounds such as the Boundless Festival.’ 

Program director Julia Tsalis will also leave Writing NSW after 13 years playing ‘a key role in the transformation of Writing NSW, building its reputation for excellence and inclusivity, and presenting an exciting and diverse program’, according to the organisation. Tsalis leaves the role of program director this month, with Amy Lovat promoted to the role of program manager.

McCredie said she was ‘deeply proud of all the team has achieved, above all the way we have expanded our support for writers from the diverse communities of our state’.  

‘It has been a huge privilege to lead this essential organisation over the last decade, working with so many wonderful writers and the brilliant Writing NSW board and staff, particularly our former program director, Julia Tsalis … There have been many challenges—the chronic underfunding of writers and the literature sector remains a battle—but the Writing NSW team has met them all with courage and determination.’ 

McCredie told Books+Publishing that while the organisation had been able to secure annual funding from Create NSW, after it missed out on multi-year funding from the funding body, ‘this is obviously very insecure’. ‘We generally don’t find out whether we have funding for each calendar year, or how much, until the previous December … just a few weeks before the funding period starts,’ said McCredie, adding that ‘this makes it very hard to plan programs and staffing’. 

McCredie said that on a federal level ‘it has become increasingly difficult for organisations like ours to get Australia Council funding’. ‘More positively, though, it was good to see the focus on literature in the new National Cultural Policy. The new funding won’t kick in until 2025, but I am hopeful this will mean a real, and long overdue, increase in support for writers and the organisations that support them.’ 

The Writing NSW board has commenced a search for a new writing NSW CEO. 

Said chair of the board Eleanor Limprecht of McCredie’s departure: ‘She has fought funding cuts and structural inequities to put writers at the forefront of the organisation. Her brilliant mind and unwavering dedication to celebrating underrepresented voices have transformed Writing NSW. While she will be greatly missed, she leaves us in a position of strength and we look forward to celebrating her legacy.’ 

Category: Local news